The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-09-27

| became as white as ghost, the cover
that he was lifting fell from his hand,
and he quilted the salle-a-msnger i'm a
state of agitation remarked by all.
Nevertheless the scene had passed Sc
rapidly that no one was able to say
whether it was the agitation that had
caused the swkwardnesss or the awk'
wardness the agitation, but dinner was
finished without Muller reappearing.
In the meantime, however, the Gen.
eral was not content. He, at least, had
seen that the Austrian officer and his
coachman were not strangers to each
other; also, that the establishment be-
| trayed was not the establishment of a
master recognizing an old servant A
strange emotion, a profound alarm.
had shown itself in the expression of
these two men as they found them
selves face to face. Moreover, the pre-
occupation of the Austrian's manner
during the remainder of the meal had
not escaped him. Had war been go
ing on between France and Austria,
General &. would have felt convinced
that Muller was playing the role of a
spy-a suppOsition under the existing
state of things impossible. 1t was
more reasonable TO think that the
coachman had committed crime, the
revelation of which he dreaded. He
must inquire into it; and as soon as
they left the table, the General sought
the Austrian, intending to question
him, but he, too. had departed from
the salon, as Muller had departed from
the salle-a-manger, and neither the
one nor the other reported again dur
ing the entire evening.
General c., exceedingly annoyed by
this double disappearance, called up
the servants when the guests had gone,
and learned from them that, after his
awkwardnesS at the table, Muller, in
great distress of mind, had fled to the
stable and locked himself in, and that,
after awhile, the Austrian officer, who
had inquired his whereabouts, hur-
riedly joined him there, and remained
with him a long time converSing earn
estly. Later IN the evening they had
come out together. and together gone
to the neighboring hotel, still continu-
ing the conversation.
The next morning, just as the Gen.
eral was seating himself to dispatch
note to the officer requesting an ex-
PLANTATION of the affair. word was
brought to him that the cOachman was
at home again, busy with his horses.
at will be better TO see him." said
the General to himself. laying aside
the note he was writing and starting
for the stable. As soon as Muller saw
him coming, however, he advanced To
meet him and respectfully presented
him letter. couched. a. nearly as /
can recall it, in the following terms:
Upon my honor as a gentleman and soldier
will answer for the fidelity and good conduct
of the coachman, Muller. COmte c. will greatly
oblige me if he does not seek TO unYel the Sc
cret in the life Of this man.
CONTE V. De -
but if | wish to know it?" said the
General, gravely, turning TO the coach
man quietly awaiting his decision.
81 should be forced to quit your ser
vice." he answered. Il should regret
it, for l have been very happy with
you; nevertheless, | should leave i'm
mediately."
The behavior of the man. as well as
the recommendation of an officer Is
well known as the Comtc de ". de-
cided the General; he ceased to ques-
ton him; Muller remained in his stable.
and at the end of few months the in
cident was forgotten.
In all probability it would have been
efaced from the Generals memory,
when a terrible accident recalled it.
One morning Muller, while conduct
ing the horses TO water, was thrown
and cruelty trampled by them. Car
ried to n house near by with frac-
tured skull, his condition was such as
TO leave but little hope of his recovery;
in fact he died before nightfail, uncon-
Scious to the last. The day following
the interment the General directed one
of his aides-de-camp To enter the cham
Der of the coachman and make list of
its contents.
Perhaps" he thought, reviewing
the circumstances surrounding the man,
perhaps there are papers that will re-
veal his identity. or money which, as a
careful and economical liver, he has
laid aside, and which must be sent to
his family, should we discover it,
| leave you to imagine the surprise
of the aide-de-camp on entering to
carry out his instructions To find folded
away at the bottom of the coachman's
trunk an Austrian uniform, the epau-
lets of Colonel, the brevet of this
grade and diplomas of various distin-
guished orders, the medals and decora-
tons of the same being in many eases